In 1992, the doors for autistic people were no longer closed. The people themselves, no longer hidden in darkness with judgment disguised in simple concepts of myths and legends which impacted this cultural group of people for decades if not centuries. Today, the opposite is occurring, those that judged and institutionalized are recognizing facts through scientific technology that the autistic population have more than the eccentricity of their gifts and talents to contribute to society. That this diverse group of people may have the key to understanding the human make-up; physiologically, neurologically, psychologically, biologically etc….
Forward 20 years from 1992, a recent documentary ‘Autism Enigma’ produced by The Nature of Things CBC, interviewed ecologists investigating bacteria in the ‘gut’ system of humans and who made a connection to the ‘gut’ system of autistic individuals. This is not just about bacteria and the gut system – it is another doorway in which to understand the global human potential that scientists have undertaken in their human search for knowledge and information.
Going back in history to 1992, the doors for autistic people were swung wide open by a [then] young woman; a young woman who had come to understand herself through the personality models of many and the derogative label of retard. Her name is Donna Williams and her remarkable journey was chronicled in a personal diary as she searched to find out what am I? Her personal diary was turned into a book with very limited editing in keeping with her writing style and unique [at that time] autistic personality traits.
Nobody Nowhere is a difficult book to read, according to many. And yet, it is the one book of our time which gives a direct insight to some of the hidden secrets behind the scenes endured by autistic children, teens and adults and manifested in alternate behaviors in an effort to survive, to merely exist.
These secrets are unveiled in this book, perhaps why it is a difficult book for many to read. Some say it is because of the unique use of language, the style in which it was written, and others say it is the content which made me feel uncomfortable. By reading the book, you can find the hidden secrets, the hidden secrets uncovered behind the labeling of autism: behavior, parenting, trauma and neglect – the failure of the supporting adults to provide a trusting and safe environment of nurture, nutrition, communication and so much more. And yet, the irony is that without this experience, Donna Williams would not have opened the doors, indeed swung the doors wide open for the autistic population to walk through today.
In Donna’s words from her youtube account: ‘Visit my website and read 'About Donna' then [read]'Diagnosis'. I was diagnosed at age 2. Gut, immune, metabolic disorders, and visual and verbal agnosias which already ran in the family which itself was highly inbred on one side and 3 gens of alcoholic mothers on the other, then sure. But its also the case that children with developmental disabilities are at higher risk of child abuse and are often born to families with related issues, sometimes affecting their parenting abilities.’
For more information visit Naturally Autistic ANCA **Nobody Nowhere was an international number one bestseller, with 15 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List and published in 20 languages throughout the world. It has been read by millions of people. Published in 1991, and although preceded by Temple Grandin's pioneering book, 'Emergence' ten years earlier, Nobody Nowhere was the first autobiography of a person with autism to become an international bestseller and paved the way for many exciting autistic authors to become published.
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